Chapter 4
Ethan stood on the balcony of his million-dollar mansion, staring into space as many thoughts lingered on his mind. Everything still felt like a dream to him. Thinking about the life he had previously lived and how his life had changed in the blink of an eyes, it all felt like a dream.
Ethan checked his mail, his face bland as he read through the text he had gotten from his Dad two days ago.
'Congratulations, son, for officially being a part of the Jacobs family' He breathed out briefly. This wasn't what he had planned for his life, but this was a fate Ethan knew he had to embrace as it had become a part of him now.
The sound of the footsteps behind him caught his attention, so he straightened his back and turned to find Bryant walking toward him.
"Mast..."
"You can just call me Ethan," He cut Bryant off, feeling uncomfortable with the title Bryant was giving him.
"I'm sorry, but I can't call you by name," Bryant held his head low.
"You look older than me, so there's nothing wrong with that. Anyway, you can just call me Sir. I think that's better," He stated, and Bryant nodded.
"Alright, Sir. I will do that. Mr. Miles asked you to have dinner with him tonight. He already made a reservation at the restaurant where you'll both meet," Bryant uttered, and he sighed briefly.
"Alright. Let me know the time and the address," He demanded.
"It's 6:30pm on the dot, and it's in Ye olde Cheshire cheese," Bryant replied to him.
"That's weird. Where is that?" He asked, and Bryant was silent.
"Alright. Tell him that I'll meet him there tonight," He replied to Bryant and he bowed, leaving the balcony afterward.
Ethan returned to staring up at the sky, and as the thought of Emily flashed through his mind, he slowly clenched his fingers around the metal rail and gritted his teeth tightly.
'You are not the father of my child' No matter how he tried to get those words out of his head, it was hard to do it. He had been getting ready over the months to welcome the baby. Excited that he was finally going to be a Dad, something he had looked forward to in recent years of his life.
"What a life," He scoffed and muttered. In the end, he had to accept his fate.
His phone beeped and he checked to see that it was a credit alert of a million dollars. His hourly allowance had just came in again.
Ethan checked his wristwatch and when he saw that it was a few minutes past 5pm, he breathed out and then walked back into his large room. He dropped his phone on his king-sized bed, then stripped out of his clothes, and walked into the bathroom.
An hour later, staring right back at Ethan was his reflection from the mirror, cladded in a suit that fitted him perfectly as though it was tailored for him. His raven hair was clinging to his head with some strands curled on his forehead.
He adjusted his knotted tie, then sprayed some perfume, and finally left to go pick up his phone lying on the bed. He strode out of the room after he was ready.
As he descended the staircase minutes later, Bryant, who was seated on one of the expensive couches in the large living room, stood up and bowed.
"Let's go," He said to Bryant as he walked elegantly toward the exit door.
"Yes, Sir," Bryant replied as he hurriedly went to open the door for him before he got there, and he sauntered out of the room.
He walked elegantly to the parking lot where five expensive cars were parked. He hopped in the backseat of a black SUV with Bryant in the driver's seat. The ride began.
"I'm currently searching for a professional driver for you since I will be handling your business affairs in a few months, Sir," Bryant uttered as he glanced at Ethan through the rearview mirror.
"Alright," Ethan nodded his head and looked out of the window.
The rest of the ride to the restaurant was filled with silence.
Bryant drove into the compound of the tall building twenty-five minutes later, and Ethan stepped out of the car before he could go to open the door for him.
"This way, Sir," Bryant gestured toward the entrance door, and Ethan led the way.
The aroma from the fancy restaurant welcomed them as soon as they walked inside.
"I think it's on the fourth floor," Bryant uttered when Ethan stopped and looked around the restaurant and didn't find Mr. Miles.
"Hmm," He hummed and followed Bryant as he led the way to the elevator which they took to the fourth floor.
"Perfect timing," Mr. Miles uttered as soon as Ethan walked into the large restaurant with Bryant. Surprisingly, Mr. Miles was alone inside when Ethan was expecting to meet many people.
Ethan checked his wristwatch and saw that it was just 6:29pm. He tucked his hands inside his pockets and walked over to where he was seated while Bryant waited by the door.
"Bryant said you asked to have dinner with you..." Ethan paused as he pulled out a chair and sat on it.
"It's nice to meet you again. It has been a while. How have you been?" Mr. Miles asked him, and he just nodded briefly.
"Have you been busy lately?" Mr. Miles asked as he reached for the closed bowl on the table, and opened the cover, revealing the delicacy inside.
"I booked the restaurant for us. You should try their meal. You will love it," Mr. Miles flashed him a smile, pointing briefly to the meals.
"I'm fine. What did you call me here for?" Ethan asked as he reclined on the chair.
"We are having a family meeting at my house tomorrow. My other children will be present there, so I think you should come too. You are my son, so you should be there," Mr. Miles stated.
"I've not acknowledged being your son. I told you that I'm only doing this because of the benefit I have in it..."
"Not that you have a choice," Mr. Miles grinned, and Ethan sighed briefly.
"I told you to keep our relationship a secret for now..."
"Not from my family. I need to introduce you to them as the new heir," Mr. Miles cut him off, and Ethan at this point knew that he didn't really have a choice. He had accepted this because of the benefits that come with it, and had told Mr. Miles to keep their relationship a secret for some reason best known to him.
"It's 2pm tomorrow. Make sure you are not late," Mr. Miles stated, but Ethan just stared at him wordlessly.
"One more thing... My other sons will be coming with their girlfriends, so you need to come with yours too. Don't worry about it. I already arranged that for you..." Mr. Miles paused and leaned forward.
"She's a friend's daughter. I will send her to your house first thing tomorrow morning so you two can get along before the time for the meeting," Mr. Miles further said, and Ethan's jaw dropped unbelievably. How could he make that decision for him without asking if he wanted that? What right does he have to do that to him?